New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-09
SUNDAY EDITION.
OCT. 8, 1887.
GRAND ARMY CONVENTION.
REVIEW OF THE ST. LOUIS ENCAMPMENT.
MAJOR GEORGE 8. MERRILL TALKS OF THE MEN
AND MEASURES FAVORED BY THE DELEGATES
TnY TEL EcR % THE rRIRUNEl

MAJOR GEORGE 8. MERRILL TALKS OF THE MEN
AND MEASURES FAVORED BY THE DELEGATES.
[BY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUNEI
BOSTON. Oct SA reporter OF The Journal interviewed
Major George i Merrill, insurance commissioners, who
recently returned from the Grand Army Encampment at
st. Louis. He said: :" 1t was altogether Of the
largest and best conventions that ever attended
aud have taken part In nineteen out Of the twentyone
that have held Ono of the things that impressed
me the makeup OF the delegations. both as 10 high
standing and ability There were 600 delegates and OF
that body there eighteen members and exmenbcrs
of Congress- Upon question that was discussed the
orators included exspeaksr Of the House Of Repre-
sontatives, a prominent member OF the House. an
Governor and an exVce President Of the United States
temper OF the organization sho by the proceed
ings highly gratifying. When the
sharp criticisms Of the Pension Committee
on the pension vetoss mp for consideration the dele
gates almost unanimously indersed them think there
was less than Of dissentsra But whom resolu-
ton came that was more vigorous than discreet in tone
the convention promptly sat down upon It, 1t was
thoroughly and discriminating body OF dele
gates"
"How was the strength Of the 50 pension bill with
this convention. compared with the lastl"
"The discussion very able aud earnest. asd, al
though the veto larger In favor OF than last year,
allowance must be made for the crcums that at
this convention considerable number voted for 1t be-
cause they went from the State Departments under de-
cded instructions do and not because they wers
personally favor it. Take, for instance. the delegates
from Massachusetts, NswYork and Indiana all OF whom
went instructed, although third OF them were person
ally opposed to the movement.
WAS any party feeling shown in the selection OF the
National Commandsrf' al,
very large number Of Eastern Republicans voted ior
him show that there was no party bias and there way
he was 50 Identified with the go that his ballots
bore tho inscription 'socum and s. month Many OF
flte
be construed into au indorssment OF that measure
praise for what they did during the Encsmpment AMI
the political demonstration which was feared might
portrait OF President Cleveland during the whole
time that was there"
ibid the battle flag question come up in any wayl"
"while the question OF the battlelags did not come
distinctly before tho convention the Wild enthusiasm ana
tho unsnmty with which the delegates Endorsed reso
luton approving every word and act OF C0mmander,
Farchd in reference to the subject , atl re s
into report in express terms an Endorsement OF MI
Major Merrill referring exviee President Hannibal
IIamia rs one OF the interesting figures OF the conven-
ment. and this was the first Grand Army convention
which he attended as delegate lie was warmO
o SRPau %sn HsA suli Strong and effective
speaker. He is not an orator in a... The
his facts in elective light as any one got MN 20
the closing speech in opposition to the 20 pension
what other strong speaker did you no,icep
| "Burdet who made a favorable anservice pension
speech The strongest and best OF the organzalsn
were almost all opposed TO it, The same may be san 81
the order in Massachusetts, Nearly all or tie eXCom .
| manders- Underwood. Coggswel. Adams, Hersey'
Greasy and Evaps-are opposed to it. Commander Iobin
like the Commander George ii. Patch, was,howevcr,
WAS there decided opposition to any other pension
| proposition y
40. ali the other propositions. as recommended by
| the pension committee, were adopted" 80,
In a closing remark the MAJOR gave expression 10 ms
sense OF the admirable spirit and discretion when per-
yaded the Encampment This year particularly Ia view
of the fact its enemies had looked for something
different and Its friends looked forward to II WIN
some forebodIngs most critical JunctuIe I'D ths
| record OF the Grand Army.